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Replay confirms Schafer safe on steal of second

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Rockies challenge a call 2:27

3/6/14: Logan Schafer steals second on a bang-bang play that is challenged by the Rockies, but the umpires' call stands

By Cash Kruth
/
MLB.com |

PHOENIX -- The Rockies and Brewers got their first taste of the expanded instant-replay system on Thursday at Maryvale Baseball Park, when Rockies manager Walt Weiss challenged Logan Schafer's steal of second in the bottom of the sixth inning.

With two outs and the game tied at 2, Schafer took off for second with Colorado's Adam Ottavino on the mound. Catcher Matt McBride, who had just entered the game in the sixth, threw to shortstop Rosell Herrera at the bag, and Schafer was called safe by second-base umpire Jim Wolf.

Weiss came out to challenge, and the play was reviewed -- and confirmed -- in less than two minutes while Wolf and third-base umpire D.J. Reyburn listened to the ruling on headsets.

Weiss said he likes the expanded instant-replay system, which Major League Baseball implemented for the 2014 season and is testing out during Spring Training.

"I like the concept, I like the fact that we're trying to get it right," Weiss said. "Everybody is. The umpires are. It's not going to be perfect right away. This thing's being implemented on a very large scale, so we don't expect it to be perfect, but I like it."

Thursday's game, which was broadcast on MLB.TV, didn't have the same number of cameras available as a regular-season game. So instead of having 12 camera angles to choose from, Weiss only had three.

But with it being a tie game in the sixth inning -- and having the opportunity -- Weiss decided to give it a go and was pleased with how his challenge was executed.

"I mentioned to Wolf at second base that I'm going to challenge this one, and he went over, and I thought they handled it very well," Weiss said. "I thought it was efficient."

The Brewers would go on to win the game, 5-3.

Cash Kruth is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cashkruth. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.